Hog-dehairing machine



May 18 1926.

L. A. KRAMER HOG DEHAIRING MACHINE 4 Sheets-*Sheet 3 Filed sept. 24 ,1825

fave/vhf" vac/ A' Gamer- 62%/ May 18 1926. 1,585,554

L. A. KRAMER H06 DEHAIRING MACHINE Y Filed sept. 24 1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented May 18, 1926.

isassl Louis A. KRAMER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

I-IOGDEHAIB'ING MACHINE.

Appiieaeioa aies september 24, 1925. serial Ivo. 58,245.

My invention relates to carcass dehairing machinesof the general class einployed for dehairing, scraping andmassaging freshly killed hogs.

In one of its numerous aspects, my invention aims to provide machine for this purpose Which Will be unusually compact in proportion to its hog cleaning capacity per hour, and one Which can readily be increased in capacity by merely increasing the number of counterpart sections. a

ln another aspect, my invention provides a novel method of manipulating the hog during its dehairing so as to insure an eilective cleaning Without damaging any part of the hoof,

More particularly, my invention provides a dehairing machine in `Which the hog is rotated While it is passing transversely of its axis through the machine, and in vvhich the hog is supported entirely by rota-ting meiny bers While in the fieldv of the dehairingoperation. t l y In the machines heretofore employed and designed vfor operating on a hog moving transversely of its axis through Lthe machine, the hog has been supported either4 entirely or at least partly by'stationary elements (suoli as bent or inclined-bars or platform supports) or by elements (suoli as conveyors) which moved quite' slovvl-y. ln practice, the frictionv of the hog against suc-h stationary or slowly moving parts often causes an undue abrasion of the surface of the skin portions engaged by these parts. Furthermore, with any flabby or small hogs, portions thereof Will sag between adjacent stationary or slowly moving supporting elements, thereby interfering with the uniformity of the cleaning and 1 dehairing and frequently causing suoli hog portions to be out. In my present machine, I aim to avoid all of these difliculties by having the hog supported throughout its dehairing by continuously yand rapidly moving elements which will prevent both suoli sagging and such abrasion.

Furthermore, my invention provides an arrangement for this purpose in Which-the hog is continually rotated at a considerable speed While `it is being dehaired, thereby enabling the cleaning action to be effected with strokes of such relative lightness as to aiiect the texture of the bacon which hairing operation.

is-aftervvards cured from outer portions of the hog. It also provides an arrangement in which theV cleaning of a hog passing horizontally through ay machine can be effected with relatively slight vertical movements of the hog, thereby preventing suchV uiidesirA ably hard slamming as would beapt to effect both the Vskin of the hog and the fat Vadjacent to the shin.

y In some further aspects, my invention provides machine in vvhich continuously rotating elements arranged for supporting the hog are so closely spaced as to avoid I having the fat or legs of the hog caught bey more, my invention provides a machine in which the hog is continuously fed through the field ofthe dehairing at a predeterminedv 'ratel and in which the feeding of the hog is entirely independent of the supporting thereof. It also provides a machine which,

can"readily be constructed either With or vvithoutauxiliary dehairing members above the main dehairing members which cooperate withv other rotating elements'in, sui

porting andv continuously rotating the hog While .passing through the field of the de` Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following'specification and from the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, the scalding tank and the, delivery conveyer being shown in dotted lines.

F ig, 2 is a plan vievv of the saine machine With portions of the top broken away and With parts of the mechanism omitted for the sake of clearance. Y f

Fig. Sis an enlarged vertical section taken transversely 'of the machine along the' line 3 3 of rig. e.

Fig. 4l: kis an enlarged and. fragmentary vertical section taken along the line of Fig. 3 to show the y'arraiigement of the beaters and collars on consecutive shafts and the disposition of thev yfeeding means vvvith respect' to these collars and beater-sf Fig.V 5 is a viewsimilar te Figi l,slfiowirijg the arrangement of the correspondingfparts lll.)

shown `the line 7 7 of 4l of one of the spools which are mounted on the shafts of the ma chine of Figs, l to l inclusive. I

Illustrative of the method and means employed'in my machine, Fig. l shows portions of the machine of l to 3 with 'a hog l in a position in which it is supported jointly by two dslrs or collars 3 which have their peripheries closely adjacent to Veach other. These disks are respectively fastened to shafts l and 5 which are both rotated in the same (clockwise) direction, so that they both rotate the hor;- in a conntercloclr- Wise direction. The beaters 5 and 6 ivhich are` respectively.carried by he shafts l and 5 also tend to rotate the hog in the saineV direction, and, since the Scrapers 7 at the end of these beaters are at a considerably great er distance from the aries of the corresponding shafts than the peripheries ofthe collars or dislrs which primarily support the hog, these Scrapers will drap; over the snrface of .the hog with a scraping` action. I

Each hog when fed into the machine is disposed between a pairV of pnsh arms 8 which are fastened to spaced linlrs on the npper stretches of endless rchains S), these chain stretches being` disposed above and parallel to the common plane in Which the ases of the shafts are disposed and relatively nea-rthese axes, so as to be considerably belovv Lthe said discs. rlfhis Vchain moves continually in one direct-ion transverse of the said shafts, so that an of the hog by the push armsY behind it will feed the hog positively transverse of the said shafts. However, the push arms on each chain aro spaced by a d' .tance `oreater Ythan the maximum diameter of the ca for which 4the machine is to be employed, so as to leave freedom for transverse to-andfro movement of the hog'. lilloreover, each push arm preferably has an anti-friction Y Wheel l0 pivoted in its upper end on an axis parallel -to the said shafts, so as to prevent a hog` from riding up on the corresponding arm when forced against the latter by the Scrapers.

Owing to the close spacing ofthe discs on the consecutive shafts, the tendency of Vany flabby or small hoc tosag between the discs on these shafts when a position o ,such as that shown in Fig. eis' reduced, and

this tendency is further nulliiied by the continuous rotating,` of the hog. Consequently, the hog at no time can sag or jam between Y these discs so'as to permit any of the beatcrs 5 or Scrapers 'l' to impact to an undue extent against such a portion ofy the hog.

S0 alsothe continuous rotating of the hog` in the same direction in whch the scrapers move along its surface reduces the' rate of movement of the scraper over the engaged surface of the hog, so that l secure a relatit-@1y light but positive scraping,- actionY as shown even When a beater is bent baclr 2li) 5A. i

B dis osino' the o erative stretch of ihe tirely avoid the damaginghog` portions` Which commonlyV occurs When the hog is supported either primarily or entirely by tationary or sloivly moving` members.V

To reach `he full length of the hog, l"

provide a. large number of vbeater members on each shaft, these being' desirably spaced 1riniforinly along the shaft. l mount the beaters on adjacent shafts in a staggered relation to each other, thereby enabling me to employ beaters of considerable reach With afrelatively close spacing of the shafts. As a desirable mounting for' Vthe beaters, l may ei iploy spools constructl also (may) Y ed substantially as shownV inV Fig. 7 ,so that eaclifspool includes a pair of' discs spaced by a cylinder lll-provided with arms l2 to which the beater straps are fastened, and aV pairof outwardly projecting Vhub ends 13. lilith the said staggered arrangement of the *B1-1 1l 1 -n' ilnit v ocatei meinoeis on adjacent siaL s, adernate such beater-carrying spools 'with plain:

spools la as shown in Fig'. 5, and by abutthezlinb ends of adjacent spools against each other as shown in the same ligure, l can use these hubs for limiting the down- VWard movement of the chain ,9 'interposed between the corrcsrponding,` spools so as toV Vtake np the sap; in the chain. vSince the upper parts these hiibs rotate in thesaine direction in which the adjacent stretch ofl the chain travels and since the small diamoler of the hubs reduces the rate of move- -mcnt at their periphery, their contact with the chains will afford but littlefriction, soY

that l can readily employ thevlinbs as chain n supports. l

For quantity hog; dehairing, l desirably build my machine in a series of sections, each .of Vvrhich is here shown including two of the said shafts, so that I can vary the effec-` tive capacity of the machine by varying the lnumber of these sections, three of which sections arevdesignated in Fig. l as A, B, and

still greater in proportion to its licor spacing, l may also provide auxiliary 4beater mechanisms and for this purposepreferably C.- To make the capacity of the machine Y lprovide shafts 'l5 dispose@ a'bovethe' common plane of the mainu 'beatencarrying shafts, each of these elevated shafts `rbeing preferably midway between the constituents of one yconsecutive pair ofthe :lower or main beater-carrying shafts as 'shown in Fig. 1. rlhese elevated shafts 15 preferably rotate inthe same direction as the said lower shafts. so that the beaters l5 carried by the upper shafts will tend `to rotate the 'hog inthe same direction in which it is 4rotated by the spool ends or disks and by the vlower beaters. Moreover, the upper beaters 16 desirably are greater in length than the 'lower ones, so

kas to Vgive a lighter but'more rapid impact against lthe hog. j

To feed the hogsinto the machine, I am lhere showing an'inclined conveyor 17 leading upward from the scalding ltank d8 and carrying push arms 19. These push varms are spaced along the conveyor-:by 'the same distances'as 'those on the chain 9, so that the consecutive push arms on the conveyer will deliver hogs respectively into the spaces between consecutive push arms 8"on the feed chain 9. Then I provide a chute plate 20 at the rear end o'f the machine down which the clean hog is charged upon a delivery belt 2l.

Since all of the shafts which extend ltransversely of the illustrated machine rotate in the same direction, these shafts can readily be driven simultaneously by a simple mechanism, as by employing a motor 22 drivinga horizontal shaft 23 and' operatively'connected to the upper shafts 15 by iintermeshing gears 24 and 25. Then I can connect each of these upper shafts by a chain 26 to.

' tion or from the appended claims.

Forexample, Figs. 5 and 6 show .a modi ficat-ion in which beater carrying shafts 28 and 29 have .the :beater members 30 on them in alinement with each other and Vcloselyadjacent longitudinally -of each shaft, and in which an intermediate shaft 3l carries plain spools 32 which are not provided with any beater members. Compa-ring Figs. 5 and 6. it will be obviousV that the spool ends or discs operate similarly in each case for rotating the hog continuously, and that by spacing the ends of adjacent spools on each 'shaft relatively close to each other and also to the adjacent beaters, I reduce the gap so that no leg or other portion of a hog can become caught. So also, it will be evident hog portions vwhich often occurs in :machines Ic'l'esifgned for lifting the hog through a considerable distance and then vpermitting it :to Idrop by gravity..

I claim as my invention l. A hog dehairing machine comprising a fplurality'of rotatable members 'having parallelv aires and spaced so as to continuously support a hog disposed lengthwise o'f the said axes, dehairing means carried by certain of the rotatable members, means fo-r continuously rotating all of the said members, and means separate .from the rotating members for pushing the hog transversely of the said axes through 1'the machine.

2. A hog dehairing machine yas per claim l, lin Vwhich lthe feeding means comprise yan endless member disposed so as to lbeout of engagement withthe hogduring the dehair! ing operation and push meanscarried by the Vendless member for engaging )thefhom 3. A hog dehairing machine as 'per .claim 1., in which the feeding means comprise a plurality 'of chains disposed so as tobe out of engagement with the hog during'the dehairing operation, means 'forl moving 'the chains conjoint-ly in the same direction,.and push members respectively carried by the several chains and-disposed -for engaging the hog, the push membersV on fthe several chains :being arranged in groups alined transversely of the chains. .I

A. A hog dehairing -machine as per claim 1, in which the axes of the rotatable mem-- bers are disposed'in a common plane.

5. A hog dehairing machine as per claim l, inwhich the aXeso-f the yrotatable mem# bers Vare vdisposed `ina common horizontal plane. i

fAhog dehairing :machineas per claim 1,in combination with auxiliary dehairing means disposed above the said rotatable members. l

7. A hog dehairing'machine comprising a plurality of parallel shafts, a plurality ofV dehairing means mounted on each shaft and spaced longitudinally ofrthe shaft,fmeans for continuously rotating all of 'the-shafts 'feeding means for pushing a hog 'transversely pas'tthe successive shafts; and-discs fast on the shafts and-so vproportioned -in diameter to the spacings between the shafts as to support the lhog independent of the feeding means. t

8. A hog dehairing machine as per claim 7, in which the feeding means comprise stretches of chains moving above the shafts but belowV the tops of the discs, and push members fast on the chains and projecting above the discs. Y,

9. A hog dehairing machine as per claim 7, in which the dehairing means on each shaft are in staggered relation to those on the adjacent shaft.

Y l0. A hog dehairing-machine as per claim l, in which the dehaii'iiig means on each shaft are in staggered Vrelation to those on the adjacent shaft and in which each of the said dehairing means moves between discs on the shafts adjacent to the one carrying the said means. Y

11. A hogdehairing machine as per claim 7, in which tne feeding means are arranged for pushing the hog in the saine direction in'ivhich the upper portions ofthe discs rotate.

l2. A hog deliairing machine comprising a plurality of parallel shafts, a. plurality of dehairing means mounten on each shaft and spaced'longitudina ly of the shafts, means VYfor continuously rotating allof the shafts;

feedingmeans forpusliinif a hog transverselyV past the successive shafts; and discs fast on* and spaced longitudinally along each shaft, the. discs on consecutive shafts being iii alinement and having their peripheries close to jeach other.

13. A hog dehairing machine comprising a plurality ofV parallel shafts, a series of counterpart spools fast on and spaced along each shaft, each spool comprising a pair of dises connected by a cylinder and a hub projecting beyond one disc, the spools on the several shafts beingl spaced to aline them transversely of the shafts; deliairing ineinbers carried by certain of the spools, means for rotating all of the shafts, and feeding iiieaiis for pushing a hog transversely of the shafts through the machine While the hog is supported by the said discs and Ydehairing members.

ll. A hog dehairiiig machine as per claim 13 in which the feeding means include chains supported by the spool hubs and push Y `ineniiiers fast on the chains.

"15. A hog dehairing machine comprising aplurality of rotatable members having parallel axes disposed. in a common and substaiitially horizontal plane, the lsaid axes `being spaced so that the' said members will above the said members; means for siinultaneously rotating the said members and the auxiliary dehairing means in the same di-V, rection, and means separate from said members for feeding the hog transversely of the said axes consecutively past the said rotatable members.

16. A hog dehairing machine comprising a plurality of rotatable members mounted on parallel sha.fts,thesaid members includ-V ing dehairing means on certain shafts and Vof the shafts, means separate from thediscs forv feeding the hog transversely of the shafts, Vand means for dehairing the hog during its said feeding. Y

18. A hog deliairing machine comprising a plurality of parallel shafts, dises fastened to and spaced along each shaft, the shafts being spaced so that the dises may continu-v ously support a hog'disposed lengthwise of' 'the shafts, Vmeans separate from the 'discs for feeding the hog transversely of theV shafts, and means for cleliairing the hog during its said feeding, the dehairing means including tivo sets of deliairing mechanisms operating respectively on the upper and lower portionsof tne hog. n Y y 19. A hog dehairing machine as Vper claim 17, in which the dehairing means include lmain dehairing mechanisms carried by -certain of the said shafts, and auxiliary deliairing means separate from all of the said so,y

shafts and disposed for operating on the `hog from above the latter.

20. A hog deliairiiig machine as per claim i7, in which the dehairing means include main dehairing mechanisms carried by certain of the said shafts, and auxiliary dehairv ing ine-ans separate from all of the Ysaid shafts and disposed for operating on the hog from above the latter, the said main and auxiliary dehairing mecha nisnis'being all arranged for rotating the hog in the ame di# rection. Y

Signed at Chicago, llliiiois, September isiii, i925.

Louis A. iraniana. 

